German Shepherds are a naturally lean dog breed. If you feed them too much as a puppy, it can cause them health issues later in life. However, puppies love to eat, making it hard to know exactly how much you need to feed them.
You should feed your German Shepherd puppy ¼ cup of dry food mixed with ¾ cups of water at 4-weeks-old. Gradually bump this schedule up to ½ cup and no water by seven weeks, working your way up to three meals a day at eight weeks. At 11-12 weeks, your German Shepherd will hit a growth spurt and eat more.
This article will explain the process of feeding your German Shepherd puppy more each week based on their age, and helpful information to provide your puppy with a healthy diet.
How Much Food Should You Feed Your Puppy?
You’ll want to make sure you do not overfeed your German Shepherd puppy. If they gain too much too quickly now, it can be challenging to lose that extra weight later. Plus, being overweight can impact your puppy’s development or even lead to hip dysplasia.
However, knowing exactly how much to feed a puppy can be tricky. It’ll feel like a gradual process as you pay attention to how much the puppy eats and adjust accordingly. You’ll need to consider the puppy’s age, personal appetite, and food nutrition levels.
Some puppies naturally eat more or less than others. You’ll want to check your puppy often to see any significant changes in their weight. An underweight puppy’s ribs will be visible, while an overweight puppy will have a noticeably big stomach.
The following chart is a general guideline for feeding your German Shepherd as a young puppy:
| Age in Weeks | Amount of Food to Water Ratio |
| 4 | ¼ cup puppy kibble: ¾ cup water |
| 5 | ¼ cup puppy kibble: ¾ cup water |
| 6 | ¼ cup puppy kibble: ¼ cup water |
| 7 | ½ cup puppy kibble: no water |
Once your puppy reaches eight weeks old, you can start offering them food three times a day. You can give them up to two cups per day at this age, but they may not eat everything. Since you want them eating on a regular schedule, take away any food they do not eat.
Take note of what they do not finish so that you can give them that much less for their next meal. Remember that very active puppies tend to eat more since they’re burning more calories. Pay close attention to your German Shepherd during meals to see how they respond to the amount of food you give them.
Feeding During Growth Spurts
German Shepherd puppies will have a growth spurt when they’re 11 or 12 weeks old. During this phase, their appetite should increase a lot. You may need to feed them more food during meals, but make sure that you still only offer three meals per day.
During this stage, your puppy is growing very fast. You’ll want to closely monitor the puppy’s weight and contact your vet if they’re not showing an interest in food. On the other hand, if your puppy is very excited about food, this is not a sign they need more. It’s easy for a puppy to gain too much weight too fast, which can cause health problems.
Be sure to check their food bag for additional feeding directions.
Changing Food
As your puppy grows up, you’ll need to change the food that they eat. This process should also be gradual. Start with more of their current food, then mix in a small amount of their new food. Slowly start to add more new food each day until it eventually takes up their entire bowl.
This process needs to be slow. Otherwise, your puppy could experience some digestive issues from the sudden change.
How Often Should You Feed Your Puppy?
German Shepherd puppies grow quickly. You’ll need to feed them three meals per day. However, the amount of food you give them will depend on their age, food type, weight, and general appetite.
German Shepherd puppies should be eating three times a day until they’re a year old. At that age, you’ll want to reduce their meal times down to twice per day gradually. The best time for feeding will be in the morning when you first wake up, then again in the evening.
Also, give them some time to digest their food before going to sleep; avoid having meals right before bed.
What Should You Feed Your German Shepherd Puppy?
The food you feed your puppy should change slowly over time. Young puppies need to rely mostly on their mother’s milk. However, you can offer the puppy small amounts of dry food mixed with water occasionally. They may not express an interest in it until they start weaning.
Once your puppy weans from milk, you’ll want to offer them a puppy chow formula. It should support the puppy’s growth and provide high levels of fat and protein. One option is the Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Food. It contains plenty of protein and nutrients, specifically for German Shepherd puppies.
Some people also enjoy making homemade food for their pets. You can prepare them a chicken casserole with the following ingredients:
- Chicken breast
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Green beans
- Rolled oats
- Chicken broth (low sodium)
To prepare the chicken casserole, follow the steps:
- Cut chicken into small pieces.
- Cook chicken until the pink is completely gone.
- Mix all ingredients into a large pot.
- Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until veggies are tender.
- Make sure the carrots are very soft before removing them from heat.
- Allow the food to cool before serving.
Depending on your puppy’s age, you may want to add more low sodium chicken broth or mash the vegetables before serving. Many people are surprised to learn that puppies can eat some vegetables safely. However, you should always check in with your vet before drastically changing a puppy’s diet.
What Should You Never Feed A German Shepherd Puppy?
Certain “human foods,” like chocolate, are toxic to dogs. If your dog eats something harmful, you’ll want to contact your vet right away. The following are some foods that you should never allow your German Shepherd puppy to eat:
- Alcohol
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Onion
- Raw potatoes
- Salt
- Yeast or yeast dough
Keep these foods out of a curious puppy’s reach. Avoid offering them too many “human foods,” as many are not healthy for them and can disrupt their feeding times. Instead, you can offer them healthy treats on occasion between meals.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot to consider when feeding a German Shepherd puppy. Offer them meals at consistent times to get them onto a mealtime schedule. As your puppy grows, they will need to eat more food.
Remember that every puppy is different, so you must pay attention to their appetite.
If your puppy still seems hungry, it is alright to add a little more food to their next meal. However, make sure you are checking your puppy’s weight often. German Shepherds need to stay at healthy weight levels as a puppy to grow up healthy.